For the M. Bell Lovers: Another longshot: Broncos may have unearthed an unheralded RB

[tnedator]

Another longshot
Broncos may have unearthed an unheralded RB

By Bill Wilson
The Daily Times-Call

ENGLEWOOD — By the time the late rounds arrived last spring, Mike Bell no longer wanted to be drafted.


After surviving the disappointment of two days without hearing his name called on television, the Arizona running back decided his best chance at

an NFL career was with the Denver Broncos. And that couldn’t

happen if another team took him.


“I’m in the best situation I can be in,” said Bell, who signed with Denver as a free agent shortly after the draft ended. “I’m with one of the best teams in the NFL with one of the best running offenses in the NFL. You can’t ask for much more.”


For how quiet Bell kept on draft day, he’s making a lot of noise so far in training camp. He’s not only roused the crowds at Dove Valley with his quick feet and shifty style, he’s worked his way into the good graces of head coach Mike Shanahan.


“Mike’s having a heck of a camp. He really has stepped up and has been very impressive,” Shanahan said. “A lot of players see him making plays that they haven’t seen for awhile.


“He’s right in the mix.”


Bell still has plenty of players to overcome before he can make the roster, let alone play on Sundays, but the tailback position in Denver is far from impenetrable.


Running back Ron Dayne, all but forgotten by the New York Giants two seasons ago, is the current frontrunner with the flashy but unproven Tatum Bell at No. 2.


The depth thins from there, with Mike Bell, fellow rookie Cedric Cobbs and fullback Cecil Sapp battling for the No. 3 spot.


“With running backs, you really can’t tell until you put the players in live situations and get them a lot of reps,” Shanahan said. “Everybody’s getting some work.”


And for Bell, who learned on draft day that fit trumps glory, work is all he’s asking for.


Chain mover: Jay Cutler’s third day of practice with the Broncos was perhaps his best with the team so far.


The rookie quarterback’s biggest moment came during 11-on-11 drills in the morning session Sunday. Cutler led the third-team offense on a scoring drive, culminating with a 4-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brian Clark.


The drive’s highlight came when Cutler was flushed from the pocket, scrambled to his right, then stepped up and fired a rocket to receiver Todd Devoe.


“He made a couple of plays in that situation, which is good to see,” Shanahan said. “It’s always nice to put quarterbacks in situations where you see how they’re going to react during a game, and I thought he did a pretty good job for the first time.”


After spending most of his time trying to digest the team’s offense, Cutler said the drill was a nice break.


“I was able to just drop back, have some fun and play football,” he said. “A lot of it was just reacting.”


Meadows in the mix: The Broncos signing of veteran offensive lineman Tim Meadows on Saturday could have an immediate impact on the team.


Shanahan said Meadows, expected to join the team after today’s practices, will be expected to push starter George Foster at right tackle.


“He has starting ability,” Shanahan said. “If he’s healthy, he’s been a difference maker.”


Meadows has been out of the NFL since 2004, but hasn’t played since the 2003 season due to a shoulder injury. A second-round draft pick, he started every game for the Indianapolis Colts during the 1999 and 2000 seasons.


The Broncos added Meadows without cutting anyone from their roster. Because receiver Ashley Lelie is holding out in the attempt to force a trade, Denver put him on the did-not-report list, freeing up a roster spot.


Training room: Safety Sam Brandon, who felt tightness in his hamstring during Saturday’s evening practice, did not participate in either session Sunday.


Shanahan estimated Brandon, who rebounded quickly from a hamstring injury last season, would be out two or three days.


Linebacker Nate Webster (knee) was limited to one practice Sunday as a precaution, offensive lineman Erik Pears (hand) missed Sundays’ afternoon session and receiver Domenik Hixon (foot) is expected to miss extensive action.


Bill Wilson can be reached at wwilson@times-call.com.

http://www.broncos07.com/index.php?o...tpage&Itemid=1

[TR3Y]

I am rooting for Mike Bell to make the team - I was looking at him as a guy that could come in with one of the late round picks and possibly earn himself a roster spot....

When he went undrafted, I figured that the Broncos would give him a shot and so far it sounds as if he is taking full advantage of his opportunites....

It would be pretty cool for a kid that grew up idolizing the Broncos to come in and be a difference maker on his favorite team....

GO MIKE BELL

[GIVEME6]

Wow...good to see one of our Bells is doing good. On another note, *** is up with Cedric Cobbs? He seemingly has everything you'd want ON PAPER, but so far he's been pedestrian in training camp. If he can't run in Denver, he might as well take over Kircus' job at Subway.

[Aija]

Originally Posted by PLUMMERFAN16

Wow...good to see one of our Bells is doing good. On another note, *** is up with Cedric Cobbs? He seemingly has everything you'd want ON PAPER, but so far he's been pedestrian in training camp. If he can't run in Denver, he might as well take over Kircus' job at Subway.

Hilarious. Yeah he was highly touted.None of them will surpass Dayne though. The guy has a quiet confidence about him. He doesent talk much but when he does say something it is always positive . The guy believes in his ability and has been holding off the young guns. tatum Bell is an enigma though. Lots of ability has been very productive but everyone just seems to know (me inculded) that he is fragile and always needs an insurance policy.

[Medford Bronco]

Cobbs is not that good. I saw him in various camps at NE and it some preseason games and a bit of the reg season and he was awful. I would bet on an unknown in Mike bell way before Cobbs. Just a humble opinion.

I say

Tatum Bell
Dayne
M Bell
and fullback K Johnson.

[Heisman 99']

Originally Posted by Aija

Hilarious. Yeah he was highly touted.None of them will surpass Dayne though. The guy has a quiet confidence about him. He doesent talk much but when he does say something it is always positive . The guy believes in his ability and has been holding off the young guns. tatum Bell is an enigma though. Lots of ability has been very productive but everyone just seems to know (me inculded) that he is fragile and always needs an insurance policy.

u betta tell'em. good post.

[jhns]

Originally Posted by Aija

Hilarious. Yeah he was highly touted.None of them will surpass Dayne though. The guy has a quiet confidence about him. He doesent talk much but when he does say something it is always positive . The guy believes in his ability and has been holding off the young guns. tatum Bell is an enigma though. Lots of ability has been very productive but everyone just seems to know (me inculded) that he is fragile and always needs an insurance policy.

I don't get where you guys pick up this fragile or injury prone thing from. Bell has not been injured very much and has hardly missed any time from it. I can name you a lot of other players that have missed more time that I can bet you wouldn't be saying are fragile or injury prone because of it. Such a horrible and undeserved label.

I am guessing the biggest reason is Shanny only wanting to run him 10-15 times a game. I would assume that makes you guys think that he can't handle the other carries because he is to delicate and would get injured. The reason Shanny only wanted to run him that much last season is because he said Bell got tired out after a few big runs and he wanted to keep his speedy change of pace back fresh and fast the entire game.

[The Hamburgler]

Mike Bell Rules.

[Heisman 99']

Originally Posted by jhns

I don't get where you guys pick up this fragile or injury prone thing from. Bell has not been injured very much and has hardly missed any time from it. I can name you a lot of other players that have missed more time that I can bet you wouldn't be saying are fragile or injury prone because of it. Such a horrible and undeserved label.

I am guessing the biggest reason is Shanny only wanting to run him 10-15 times a game. I would assume that makes you guys think that he can't handle the other carries because he is to delicate and would get injured. The reason Shanny only wanted to run him that much last season is because he said Bell got tired out after a few big runs and he wanted to keep his speedy change of pace back fresh and fast the entire game.

i no what u mean. But its not that he's injury prone, he just cant shake the injury bug. His time will come when he performs to the best of his abilities, just like all the other players that u say miss more time. He's not really a label, but its a 'knock" on him. Just like the blocking, catching, carries etc.. In otherwords, a complete back.

[ReleaseTheBeast7]

Originally Posted by Heisman 99'

i no what u mean. But its not that he's injury prone, he just cant shake the injury bug. His time will come when he performs to the best of his abilities, just like all the other players that u say miss more time. He's not really a label, but its a 'knock" on him. Just like the blocking, catching, carries etc.. In otherwords, a complete back.

Excatly... All Tatum can do is take that toss outside and sprint -- he hasn't shown any signs of being able to catch, block, run up the gut, pound the ball, etc. He's a long shot away from a starter, but he's a hell of a change of pace/3rd down back -- and I am glad he's a Bronco.

I see Tatum and Ron handleing the carries early on in the season, and Mike Bell(If he continues to do what he's doing now) comes in later in the season and starts getting more and more carries.

We'll have a 1,000 yard back along with a 800 yard back again though, which is pretty damn badass.

[Retire #30!!!]

I was just at training camp Sunday and Monday, watched the practices with pads, and Mike Bell looked very good. I think we picked up a hell of a player with him. Believe the stories about him, he is the real deal.

[Heisman 99']

Originally Posted by ReleaseTheBeast7

Excatly... All Tatum can do is take that toss outside and sprint -- he hasn't shown any signs of being able to catch, block, run up the gut, pound the ball, etc. He's a long shot away from a starter, but he's a hell of a change of pace/3rd down back -- and I am glad he's a Bronco.

I see Tatum and Ron handleing the carries early on in the season, and Mike Bell(If he continues to do what he's doing now) comes in later in the season and starts getting more and more carries.

We'll have a 1,000 yard back along with a 800 yard back again though, which is pretty damn badass.

But i dont think whoever is the #3 back will see that much action unless 1 or 2 gets hurt. Cecil sapp also plays rb and if one gets hurt he would be the 3 for that game. the 3rd back would more than likley have 50 or less carries for the year. (barring injury). But it would be nice to fall 200yrds of 3000.

[broncos4ever]

I think a lot of you are dreaming... The Running back position only has a #1 and #2 on paper, the competition and the position is wide open. Mike S. has said that himself, there is no starter at this time.

So if Mike Bell impresses in training camp and he could very well be the starter even over my favorite Tatum.

I want the best for the Broncos, so let's see who looks like the best.

Sorry guys I am definitely not on the Ron Dayne bandwagon. He is going to have to prove it to get me there. If he has a good year or two then maybe but if he could not do it in New York then why would he be able to do it here... I just can't see it.

[jhns]

Originally Posted by ReleaseTheBeast7

Excatly... All Tatum can do is take that toss outside and sprint -- he hasn't shown any signs of being able to catch, block, run up the gut, pound the ball, etc. He's a long shot away from a starter, but he's a hell of a change of pace/3rd down back -- and I am glad he's a Bronco.

I see Tatum and Ron handleing the carries early on in the season, and Mike Bell(If he continues to do what he's doing now) comes in later in the season and starts getting more and more carries.

We'll have a 1,000 yard back along with a 800 yard back again though, which is pretty damn badass.

I just feel like defending him right now. He was decent at receiving and not horrible last season. He has steadily progressed at it and I only would imagine him being better this season.

If you look at his highlights from last season, which I imagine are most of his big runs, a lot of them are inside runs that he just works his way to the sideline on after getting past the first level.

His blocking still leaves a lot to be desired.

I think people are a little hard on Bell. He has a very good rpc average that is better than most in the league. He also does a lot of things well and people on here and media still bring up stuff he did wrong when he was a rookie. He is now in his 3rd year and this is the normal year for a player to actual show up in the NFL and prove what they are worth. I am confident that Bell is going to shine this season and Mike Bell won't have much of a shot at starter. Not only because of Tatum but Dayne also. It would be cool to have Mike Bell outshow both of them thow and become really good in this league. We could end up with the best 2 all time undrafted free agents. I did watch some highlights of camp and Mike did look pretty good. If Tatum put on that muscle that they said he did in the offseason I just don't think Mike will even have a shot because Tatum can become dangerous.

[specialblend154]

Originally Posted by TR3Y

I am rooting for Mike Bell to make the team - I was looking at him as a guy that could come in with one of the late round picks and possibly earn himself a roster spot....

When he went undrafted, I figured that the Broncos would give him a shot and so far it sounds as if he is taking full advantage of his opportunites....

It would be pretty cool for a kid that grew up idolizing the Broncos to come in and be a difference maker on his favorite team....

GO MIKE BELL

Exactly. he really reminds me of Tatum Bell's style of running. And having him to look up to will only improce his skills. Running off tackle and catching a line backer with that side step he is showing off in practice he can break many runs into the open field. great underdrafted free agent pickup IMO.